Sound Transit was on a roll Friday, as the light rail builder received a big federal grant from Washington, D.C., while fending off a class action lawsuit against a big money source in this Washington.

"This is a very positive step toward seeking the $1.17 billion full funding grant agreement we need to start building the Lynnwood light rail link next year," said Snohomish County Executive and ST board chair Dave Somers.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., had rare measured positive words for the Trump administration and U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. And the senator touted her position as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

"From providing reliable transit for commuters and consumers, to supporting efforts to address traffic congestion and more, it would be hard to overstate the value of expanding light rail to even more Pugett Sound commuters," Murray said in a statement.

The senator is a longtime Sound Transit booster, best known for her fight for federal money that extended Sound Transit's initial light rail system from Tukwila to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. With its previous terminus short of the airport, the line had been nicknamed "light rail to nowhere."

Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff was also using unusually kind words for the Trump administration.

"We could not be more grateful for the administration's support and look forward to continuing our strong partnership," Rogoff said in a statement.